Come Unto Me - Jesus Matthew 11:25-28
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Reflection: Though the past couple of days Jesus has been stern with his pronouncement of woes for those who reject His offer of forgiveness. Today he ends chapter 11 with some of the most encouraging and comforting words of this Gospel to date. First of all Jesus acknowledges that all things have been revealed to Him by the Father. He also claims intimate knowledge and full disclosure with the Father, thus in essence He is already claiming His divinity.
But the real punch line comes in verse 28 when he invites all those who are weary and burdened to come to him for rest. Normally we think of weary and burdened in a physical sense but it is clear from the context he is referring to spiritual rest. He recognized their souls were weary from measuring up to the Law. Not only was the Law impossible to measure up to, but the Pharisees and Sadducees added many other additional laws, which only made it more burdensome.
So Jesus invites them to come unto him. He invites them to a personal relationship with Him, as He has with the Father. As we come you to him we find rest for our souls. We often call this peace. Jesus says in John, "My peace I give to you not as the world gives." Then, he tells them to take His yoke upon them and learn from Him. The yoke of the Law was weary and burdensome but Jesus was easy and light. Why? Because he is pulling the load we are not having to do all it myself.
What does this mean for us? If following Jesus always feels stressful and burdensome there is a good chance we are not yoked to him and we are trying to do it all ourselves. When we are abiding in Christ, another way of saying being yoked to Him, our lives will flow out of his life. That is why Paul will often talk about being "in Christ" or "in Him". And similarly he says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Are you feeling burdened today? Come to Jesus who invites you to walk with Him? He doesn't want us to be burdened but to travel lightly and have our lives flow out of His just as He did as He was intimately connected to the Father at all times.
Jesus thank you for your invitation to walk with you. As we face challenges in this life we know your burden is easy and your yolk is light. Amen.
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Reflection: Though the past couple of days Jesus has been stern with his pronouncement of woes for those who reject His offer of forgiveness. Today he ends chapter 11 with some of the most encouraging and comforting words of this Gospel to date. First of all Jesus acknowledges that all things have been revealed to Him by the Father. He also claims intimate knowledge and full disclosure with the Father, thus in essence He is already claiming His divinity.
But the real punch line comes in verse 28 when he invites all those who are weary and burdened to come to him for rest. Normally we think of weary and burdened in a physical sense but it is clear from the context he is referring to spiritual rest. He recognized their souls were weary from measuring up to the Law. Not only was the Law impossible to measure up to, but the Pharisees and Sadducees added many other additional laws, which only made it more burdensome.
So Jesus invites them to come unto him. He invites them to a personal relationship with Him, as He has with the Father. As we come you to him we find rest for our souls. We often call this peace. Jesus says in John, "My peace I give to you not as the world gives." Then, he tells them to take His yoke upon them and learn from Him. The yoke of the Law was weary and burdensome but Jesus was easy and light. Why? Because he is pulling the load we are not having to do all it myself.
What does this mean for us? If following Jesus always feels stressful and burdensome there is a good chance we are not yoked to him and we are trying to do it all ourselves. When we are abiding in Christ, another way of saying being yoked to Him, our lives will flow out of his life. That is why Paul will often talk about being "in Christ" or "in Him". And similarly he says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Are you feeling burdened today? Come to Jesus who invites you to walk with Him? He doesn't want us to be burdened but to travel lightly and have our lives flow out of His just as He did as He was intimately connected to the Father at all times.
Jesus thank you for your invitation to walk with you. As we face challenges in this life we know your burden is easy and your yolk is light. Amen.
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